A 47-year-old woman, identified as Ms. Wang, fiercely protected her valuables and refused to admit she was being scammed, repeatedly telling police officers, "I haven’t been deceived! Stay out of it!" The situation escalated when she became agitated and declined to provide any information about her circumstances.
On April 30, after receiving an instruction from the anti-fraud center to conduct an in-person intervention, Xu Miaochun, a member of the Yuhang District public security anti-fraud team, met with Ms. Wang. Despite her defiant attitude, which quickly stalled the劝阻 efforts, Xu remained patient. Drawing on four years of experience in fraud prevention, he calmly observed her behavior while looking for an opening to break through her resistance.
At a critical moment, a message popped up on Ms. Wang’s phone through a little-known communication app. The content was vague but carried an urgent tone. Sensing an opportunity, Xu gently inquired, “Who sent you this message? Is it related to your gold purchase?”
Ms. Wang avoided eye contact and reluctantly admitted that she had been communicating with a man who claimed to be a soldier and was her “boyfriend.” Seizing the moment, Xu pressed further with precise questions: “Did your boyfriend mention he was about to retire? Did you download this obscure app by clicking a link he sent? Did he provide you with a bank account for transferring money?”
Confronted with these targeted inquiries, Ms. Wang’s responses grew inconsistent and evasive, revealing clear signs of deception. Xu immediately concluded that she was caught in a “pig-butchering” romance scam.
He patiently explained the fraudster’s tactics, pointing out that the “soldier boyfriend” was a fabricated identity, the obscure app was used to evade oversight, and the fake investment platform was designed to trap victims. The request to purchase gold and deliver it offline was meant to launder illicit funds.
After receiving this detailed clarification, Ms. Wang finally realized she had been deceived. The successful intervention prevented the loss of 450 grams of gold and over 4 million yuan in her bank account, avoiding significant financial damage.
Follow-up actions are currently underway. Police remind the public that scammers continuously update their methods, and a combination of “online诱导 plus offline delivery” has become a new trend. Any request to hand over cash, gold, or other valuables to a stranger at a designated location is fraudulent. Be wary of claims such as “online transfers are slow, cash is faster” or “offline is safer.” Protect your savings—do not hand over your hard-earned money to con artists.
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